Ray Basri, MD (Middletown, NY)

Dear Fellow Firefighters: I am a physician and firefighter. I would like to serve as an at-large director to use my expertise to lower firefighter injury, illness, and death from heart attacks. My qualifications include: 22 years firefighter with the Excelsior H & L in Middletown, NY, consulting physician for the FDNY WTC monitoring program, Deputy Orange County fire coordinator, Senior Aviation Medical Examiner for the FAA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at New York Medical College, and a monthly column in Firehouse. In my medical practice I have done thousands of firefighter examinations. I have written expert medical opinions in many Line of Duty Death cases for firefighters and testified in court on behalf of the families. I provided disaster management in coastal Mississippi immediately after Hurricane Katrina and made six more trips there in the last two years. The New York chapter of the American College of Physicians awarded me the 2008 Laureate Award for rendering distinguished service to the chapter and the community while upholding the high ideals and professional standards. This is the highest award to a physician in New York State. My goal is to bring every firefighter: a yearly medical examination focused on reducing heart attacks, providing LODD benefits for all heart attacks in the fire service, changing federal policy on providing families LODD benefits for heart attacks, and getting firefighters coverage for cancers caused by exposure to toxic chemicals.

Robert Dube (Louisa County, VA)

I am a candidate for re-election to the board of directors for the SHS Section. I have had the honor of serving as a board member for the past three years and I would appreciate the opportunity to continue our amazing progress in improving the safety, health and survival of firefighters worldwide. I have been an active member of the Section, being a part of important projects such as the IAFC NIOSH-FFFIPP task force, which convened in 2007 to develop a set of recommendations regarding changes to the existing NIOSH program. This task force report and subsequent implementation plan can be viewed on www.iafcsafety.org. I was also a member of a joint IAFC/IAFF project to design and implement a firefighter survival program. This life saving training program will be available later in 2009. Recently, I have been tasked with the implementation of our 2009-2010 strategic plan. It is through this plan that out Section will continue to focus on the safety, health and survival of firefighters. I have had a wide range of experiences in my fire service career, from starting in a small town volunteer fire department to serving in a large, urban fire-rescue department to my current role as fire chief in a growing rural community that is experiencing its first career staff. If I am re-elected, I will continue my efforts to represent the IAFC and this important Section while never forgetting my roots as a firefighter and EMT. Thank you for your support.

Todd LeDuc (Broward County, FL)

Todd J. LeDuc, MS, CFO, CEM is the Deputy Chief of Department for Broward County, Florida, a career metro department in the 15th most populous county in the U.S., with approximately 600 members. He has multifaceted experience leading in a department that operates fire-based EMS, ARFF, Seaport, regional hazardous materials, technical rescue and air rescue response as well as municipal fire suppression responsibilities. He has twenty-three years in the service. He speaks and publishes frequently on leadership and safety issues of importance to the fire service. Chief LeDuc has participated in fire department evaluations, master plans and consolidation feasibility studies in over a dozen states allowing him much insight as to fire and rescue services across the Country. Chief LeDuc is on the editorial board for a dozen industry related journals and publications. His most recent presentation has been “How to Read the Tea Leaves: Situational Awareness, Surviving On & Off the Fire ground” has been presented at Fire Rescue International and State Chief Associations to sensitize firefighters to preventable dangers. He has a specialized interest in fire and EMS cardiac wellness and prevention. If elected as a SHS board member, I will actively listen to membership and serve with pride and integrity, assuring that particularly during these challenging fiscal times that the voice of fire service is heard on matters of health, safety and survival. In closing, I am humbly asking for your vote of support and pledge to work diligently to represent the section and their interests.

Gary Morris, Ret. (Phoenix, AZ )

My fire service and safety career started as a volunteer firefighter and then serving 30 years with the Phoenix, Arizona, Fire Department, retiring as Assistant Chief where I served as the Departments safety chief officer on two separate assignments. I was the fire chief for the Seattle, Washington, Fire Department and later the fire chief of the Rural/Metro Fire Department in the Phoenix area. I also held a paramedic certification for 15 years. I am now retired and consulting. I have a long history of participation in national firefighter safety issues and implementing progressive safety and survival programs in fire departments in which I served. My commitment to firefighter safety goes back to joining the IAFC safety committee in 1988 and serving as chair (2003-2004) just prior to it evolving to the now Safety, Health and Survival Section. I presently serve as the Sections reprehensive to the new NFPA committee on ambulance design. I’m also the lead for the Sections project in developing a set of “Rules of Engagement for Structural Firefighting.” My education includes a Masters of Arts degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelors degree from Arizona State University. I’m also a graduate of Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. I look forward to your support in my continued commitment to you, and the safety, health and survival of all firefighters through another term as a director at-large.

Randall Talifarro (East Lansing, MI)

Chief Talifarro is currently an elected at-large director for the Safety, Heath and Survival Section of the IAFC since 2008. He is Fire Chief for the East Lansing Fire Department, a full-paid department providing services to the residents of East Lansing (pop. 46,500) and Michigan State University with over 46,000 students. The department performs fire, EMS (Paramedic level), HazMat (Technician level), High-Angle Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Structural Collapse, USAR and Water Rescue operations. Chief Talifarro has 25-years in firefighting, working previously for the City of Flint Fire Department where he retired as Assistant Chief. While there he also performed as Battalion Chief (Safety and Training Division). Randall has a B.A. in Public Administration from the University of Michigan. He serves on the IAFC Education and Training Sub-Committee and the Joint IAFC/IAFF Promotional Taskforce. Chief Talifarro is a member of the Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs (Great Lakes Division). Chief Talifarro is a Certified Professional Emergency Manager and has extensive training attending the National Fire Academy and Emergency Management Institute on many occasions. He serves on several State teams most notably the Michigan Critical Infrastructure Coordinating Committee and Michigan Automated Critical Asset Management Team. Chief Talifarro is also a Certified Instructor through DHS, EMI (NIMS and WMD) and a State Instructor for: EMS (Paramedic level), HazMat, Firefighter I/II and Fire Officer I/II/III. Randall is married to wife Shawn, an elementary school principal. They have two sons, Ramone (a firefighter for the City of Indianapolis) and Roland.

Allen Walls (Colerain Township, OH)

I am seeking the position of At-Large Director for the IAFC Safety, Health and Survival Section. I have 15 years experience in both the volunteer and career fire and EMS service and currently serve as the Division Chief of Training and Safety with the Colerain Township Department of Fire and EMS, a combination department in suburban Cincinnati comprised of approximately 197 personnel. Additional work experience includes that with an environmental toxicology company, an engineering consulting company, and as a research assistant in the Department of Surgery at the University of Cincinnati. I have attained a B.S. in Biology, and also have the following certifications: NREMT-P, FFI/II, Ohio certified fire and EMS instructor, PALS instructor, ACLS instructor, and BLS instructor. I am also an adjunct instructor for Cincinnati State College and have served in all capacities in the fire service up to and including my current position.I pledge to work tirelessly for increased firefighter health and safety and will do so by following the words of a Spartan Warrior who described the Monarch Leonidas as one “who did not command his men’s loyalty through fear nor purchase it with gold, rather he earned their respect by the sweat of his own back and the pains he endured for their sake.” You can expect that I will work tirelessly to earn your respect and I will be humbled and honored to work alongside, and directly with, the other directors and IAFC members.